Page 19 of Unexpected

And that was just feeding. Diapers? I’d watched just now but never done it. And if there was another blowout, God forbid, what then? Ointment, I assumed, but how often? How much? And what else? What the holy hell else did I need to know? There had to be scores and scores, but I was so clueless I didn’t even know what I didn’t know.

“Quincy,” I said once we were in the kitchen and she’d started taking everything out of bags and packaging. “I know you don’t know me from Adam, but is there any way you’d consider staying here tonight? I’ll pay you well, provide your dinner and breakfast, and we can find a different place for the baby so you can have the guest bed. It’s brand-new and…” I shook my head. “If it sounds like I’m desperate, it’s because I am. Please. I need help.”

She set the extra bottles on the counter and met my gaze. “I’d be happy to, Knox. Whatever I can do to help.” She smiled as if it was no big deal, even though to me, it was a big, giant deal.

I exhaled. “Thank you.”

I was so damn relieved I could kiss her.

And I meant that only in a manner of speaking, of course. Nothing else.

CHAPTER7

QUINCY

Even though I was sure Juniper would sleep for at least a couple of hours, maybe more, I could tell Knox was terrified of being alone with her, so I waited with him until Ava returned.

He baked us a frozen pizza, and we ate it with a beer as we got to know each other better. Nothing too deep, just the basics, almost like a first date except it wasn’t. At all. I told myself that several times, because the more I got to know about him, the more I liked him. He seemed smart and thoughtful, concerned for the baby in his care, and determined to succeed at his new fiction career with Ava.

As we finished tidying up the kitchen, Ava returned with a trunk full of baby gear.

“I don’t even know what half of this is,” Knox said as he and Ava hauled everything into the house.

“You’ll learn soon enough,” Ava said lightly.

“Are you sure I’ll need all of this? I don’t even know how long she’ll be here.”

“What are the odds of Gina driving up and asking for her daughter back?” Ava asked. “And on the off chance she did, would you let her take her?”

Knox frowned but didn’t answer. I shared a look of concern with Ava because both points were valid.

“I’m sorry to bolt so fast, but I should get home before Cash does,” Ava said once the car was unloaded.

From what I gathered, she was in a difficult place, trying to keep peace between Knox and Cash, who was upset that Knox had lied to everyone about his identity. I knew Cash’s temper well enough to understand Ava would have to balance carefully between her writing partner and her life partner.

“He’s cooking for me when he gets home from work,” she continued. “Kind of our private celebration of getting engaged.”

“You’ve gone above and beyond,” Knox acknowledged. “I appreciate your help more than you know, particularly in light of your fiancé’s opinion of me.”

“He’ll get over it.” Ava blew out a breath. “It just might take some time.”

“Lucky for me, Quincy’s here to save me. Or really, to save Juniperfromme.” Knox laughed uneasily.

“You’re going to do fine,” I said confidently. “We’ll get you comfortable with her.”

His brows shot up, as if he didn’t know if that was possible. I found it endearing that this competent guy, who had to be so super smart to be a technical writer and a fiction writer, could be so insecure around a small human.

“Quincy will get you whipped into shape,” Ava said. “Thank God for you, Quincy, because I’m as out of my element as Knox.”

“Most of this is just experience,” I told them. “I was twelve when my sister Hannah was born. Then Brayden and then Molly. I’ve changed a lot of diapers.”

As Ava opened the front door, a cry sounded from the guest room.

“Shit,” Knox said, visibly tensing.

“I’ll go get her while you see Ava out. Good night,” I said to Ava. “Have a happy celebration dinner with your fiancé.”

As she said goodbye, Juniper’s volume increased to a full-out, I’m-hungry howl.

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